1. & By Pieter van Eijk, Copenhagen, December 2009 Wetlands for mitigation and adaptation An overview

2. Contents The importance of wetlands for adaptation and mitigation – Mangroves – Saltmarshes – Seagrasses – Inland wetlands Examples of ecosystem-based approaches Conclusions and policy recommendations

3. Mangroves: mitigation Up to 160 T C/ha Large stocks in living biomass

4. Mangroves: mitigation But also below-ground storage: Net Primary Productivity 13.8 T/ha/year Source IUCN 2009 1.17 T C/ha/yr 2.67 T C/ha/yr 10 T C/ha/yr: fate unknown POC/DOC

5. Mangroves: adaptation Mitigating storm damage: 1.5 metre waves eliminated; Tsunami research: 6 metre high waves largely absorbed Withstand annual sealevel rise of up to 3-9 mm Reducing erosion: Red cross mangrove planting in Vietnam: € 1 million investment € 7 million annual return from reduced maintenance works

6. Saltmarshes: mitigation & adaptation Net Primary Productivity 0.6 - 8.12 T C / ha/year Source IUCN 2009 Little storage in biomass, a lot in soils! Adaptation potential: Prevention of storm damage and erosion Economic value of US saltmarshes for storm protection: 250- 51.000 USD/ha/year 2.1 T C/ha/yr Unknown outflow Unknown decomposition POC/DOC

7. Seagrasses: mitigation & adaptation Net Primary Productivity 4 - > 8 T/ha / year Source IUCN, 2009 Adaptation potential: Reducing erosion and wave power Significant storage in root biomass (70 T C/ha), some in soils ~ 0,83 T C/ha/yr ~ 24% ~ 68% POC/DOC

8. Freshwater wetlands Peatlands and forested wetlands: large carbon stocks Rather small stocks in other freshwater systems Methane emissions can be high Mitigation: Mitigating floods, droughts and fires Preventing saltwater intrusion Supporting food production Adaptation:

9. 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers > 2000 ha planted

10. Our mangrove sites after 1 year… 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers

11. Our mangrove sites after 7 years… 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers

12. Our mangrove sites after 10 years… 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers

13. 2003 2006 2. Restoring peatland functions Ruoergai peatlands china – Avoided emissions and restored water regulation for millions downstream

14. Jhelum R. Haigam Manasbal Lar Cannal 19112007 3. Increasing water retention capacity Wular lake, India: Management plan to increase water retention capacity by 25%: buffering of floods and droughts ?

15. 4. Hybrid engineering Design by DHV Consultancy & Engineering Waddenworks (Netherlands): Linking hard- and soft infrastructure

16. Conclusions Ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation: Crucial, cost-effective and multiple side benefits Not the only solution: link to community- and engineering-based approaches More research needed to reveal their full potential

17. Policy recommendations Explicit recognition in adaptation and mitigation policies and planning Avoid maladation: other measures should not negatively impact on ecosystem functioning Include sustainability guidelines in adaptation funding frameworks: Strategic Environmental Impact asessments?

18. More Information? www.wetlands.org Pieter.vanEijk@wetlands.org